A bittersweet sibling moment p1

When he opened his eyes, Garrick was surprised that his surroundings were unfamiliar.

This wasn't Ned's room, At least not the one he slept in last night.

And he wasn't Laying down either, in fact Garrick was standing in the middle of a fancy yet Gloomy looking room, there was a big bed with purple sheets behind him, a fluffy dark carpet rested underneath.

Attached to the wall besides the bed, was A tall Bookshelf, while a window with a spot to sit in, was on the opposite wall.

Infront of the bed, was A wide closet and next to it, a glass-top desk with wooden legs and a chair.

Few books were scattered here and there on that desk, while some laid on the floor and some on the bed.

But for some reason, Garrick was unable to read what's written on Those books, And if he tried to focus on them, his vision would get blurry and his head starts hurting him.

It wasn't just the books that were hard to focus on, if Garrick focused on any spot in the room itself, it'll start getting blurry for him, so he can only take quick glances and keep his eyes moving around so the scenery wouldn't become too blurry.

Suddenly the room's door swung open, "Who are you?" Garrick asked as he saw someone enter through the door, "Where Am I?" He asked again, But He received no answer.

What stood in front of him, was none other than Ned, but not the older Ned, it was the 10 years-old version of Ned that Garrick met for the first time in Derora's Royal woods, near Muriel's palace.

But to this Garrick, this was the first time he saw Ned as a child, he didn't knew that he already met Ned the kid before, since he didn't have his past life memories back yet.

"Ned is that you?! You're...a kid! you were So adorable! I almost didn't recognize you!" Garrick said in awe, but Ned didn't respond to him again, he couldn't see Garrick or hear him apparently.

"Could This be just like what happened with My memories of Henrietta?" Garrick Wondered disappointed.

But Suddenly, "Humph!" Ned Scoffed as he said, "Seriously, I keep worrying about that idiot, Garrick...I bet he forgot all about me and he's playing with a new boy in the woods."

"Wait, Is he talking about me?" Garrick asked.

Then all of the sudden, Ned's whole face turned completely red, he seemed angry and flustered at the same time as he screamed, "THAT STUPID MOHAWK BRAT IN THE WOODS! I SHOULD'VE NEVER AGREED TO PLAY WITH HIM THAT DAY! NOW I CAN'T STOP WORRYING ABOUT HIS STUPID ARSE?!"

Garrick was startled by that, he nearly screamed himself, "What in the...hell?!"

"That idiot! he had to jump to help that kidnapped kid, and I can't believe how i stupidly followed him.

Because of what happened that day, I came back home late, then my shitty father caught me and now I'm completely prohibited from going outside the house, unless it's for school.

IT'S ALL HIS STUPID FAULT!

YOU WANT TO KISS ME WHEN WE GROW-UP?! HUH?! FUCK YOU GARRICK!" The 10 years old screamed again while punching the air repeatedly with his tiny fists.

"Jesus fucking Christ! did this kid just curse?!" Garrick was baffled, "So I met Ned as a kid and he hated me?"

Garrick was surprised by Ned's words, he really thought that younger Ned hates him, But soon enough he realized it was the opposite, actually.

In seconds, Ned's anger evaporated and what was left was the deep-red Blush that coated his cheeks from ear to ear, his expression no longer angry but rather sad and disappointed, "How can he say he'll kiss me when we grow-up?...That idiot...what if we never grow-up, what if we never meet Again...you should've kissed me when you had the chance you stupid idiot! I hate YOU!

I hate how clueless you are...I hate how I think you're adorable even with your ugly haircut." Ned said hugging himself.

"He keeps attacking my childhood haircut...at least he doesn't seem to actually hate me, so was he mad that I didn't kiss him?" Garrick said chuckling.

However, he got surprised again when Ned's tears started to fall one by one until his face drowned in salty water, "I'm scared...I don't want to live anymore...my dad...He keeps on hurting me...I don't know what's going to happen to me Garrick...I don't think I'll see you again.

You live so happily and carelessly, and you always smile when you have nothing...you don't even have a family *Hiccups* but you're happier than me.

I just wish I could play with you all day...I wish I could run with you...why did you have to show-up that day...Why me?! WHY?!" As Ned cried his eyes out, Garrick couldn't help but to watch with a broken heart.

"Jesus...how can a child think like this?! Ugh your father, that asshole must've been so awful to you." Garrick said angrily, "Wait until I meet that Fucker, he's dead!" he added then tried to approach the crying Ned, with the intent to hug him.

However, the moment Garrick's hand touched Ned, The room started to crumbled out of nowhere, "HEY?! NO! WAIT?!" but there was nothing Garrick could do, he watched Ned and the room disappear, before he opened his eyes, for real this time.

...[End of dream]...

"What...Was that?!" Garrick asked himself, he was so surprised and confused but his confusion didn't last long, he knew he was back to reality when something started licking his Face enthusiastically.

"Huh?! Luna?! how did you get in here gurl?"

"Woof Woof!"

"Were you trying to wake me up?" he Asked sitting upright.

"Woof Woof?"

"I don't think you'll understand, but i just had a weird experience...Anyways, did you sleep well?"

"Woof Woof Woof!" Luna barked happily then nuzzled her face against Garrick's hands, "You want me to pet you? come here sweetheart." Garrick said happily picking-up Luna the puppy in his hands, he gave her a bunch of kisses before he started to pet her while he thought to himself.

"That was definitely a memory of Ned's...but why was I there? and how come I got to see it?"

He continued to pet an overjoyed Luna while thinking about the dream he just had, until the door to the bedroom unexpectedly swung open.

"Garrick, are you awake?" A familiar warm voice asked, but it wasn't Ned, it was Matilda.

"Hey! you're here! how are you doing?!" Garrick asked.

"I'm doing good for the time being...I see that Luna finally woke you up, Ned must've done a number on you." Matilda said chuckling as she walked towards them.

Embarrassed, "What are you talking about?" Garrick asked.

Before Matilda could tease him more, something tiny ran fast between her feet startling her, "Choco! watch out you jumpy cat!" Matilda warned the eager cat.

As soon as She saw Choco, Luna barked and jumped off Garrick and went to Choco, the two pets started playing and chasing after each other before they left the room together.

"What...was that?" Matilda asked, "I guess Choco and Luna became besties? haha!" Garrick replied laughing.

"A puppy dog and a cat...hah." Matilda said chuckling, "Anyways, Garrick...i wanted to have some chitchat with you...you know, sister to brother.

I'm honestly still not believing it, that you're my actual brother, Lucius too...I mean, this is..."

"Wild? Crazy?...I know, I can't believe it too." Garrick replied, "But it's nice that you called me 'Brother'...I never thought I'd hear that from actual family...Sister." He added smiling.

Blushing, "Yeah, it's nice to hear that...I guess you and I Are more alike than we thought." Matilda said.

"I'm glad we found each other, I'm glad you're my sister, Matilda." Garrick said opening his arms for a hug, Matilda hurried to him and the two wrapped Their arms around each other.

They hugged each other tight, both fighting the urge to break down and cry.

It was a different kind of warmth to be hugged this way for the both of them, They've been hugged by friends, lovers, but never a family before.

It's true, they just found out about it, but they've been around each other for a while now, Making each of them strangely grateful that this person they're hugging, turned out to be family.

Hiding by the door, Ned secretly watched them hug while enjoying the warmth his heart felt through Garrick.

He came looking for Matilda who left the living room shortly after Yurei and Nashoba's Chasing Olympics began, he wondered if she went to see Garrick since she asked about him earlier, and he was right.

"I guess I should let them be for a while." Ned said to himself smiling, before he stealthily went back to where he came from.

As for those two, they continued hugging for a good long minute before letting go of each other.

Clearing her throat, "Thanks...I really needed that." Matilda said, "Me too...i wish I can hug Lu as well." Garrick replied.

"Yeah me too...I can't believe we're gonna watch the little guy get married tomorrow." Matilda said sighing, "With everything that we know now, I find it difficult to feel happy about that, but I'll try...He Deserves it." she added.

"Matilda...I...Umm..." Garrick stopped when his voice cracked, he could feel his throat burning-up all of the sudden.

"What is it?" Matilda said feeling her eyes water, "Derora...do you ever miss it?" Garrick asked.

"Yeah...I miss my old job there, I miss watching you and the other knights train and goof around...I miss that version of Socorro, where she was her happiest self...but above all I miss how simple it was back then, compared to now...although this place got some cool technology, which makes me wonder if Derora has internet now." Matilda said chuckling to stop tears from falling.

"Do you think Ned...would wanna go back there?" Garrick asked biting his lips as a tear slid down the corner of his eyes.

"I'm not Ned to tell you that...but I know that he misses Derora too, it must be hard on him that you can't remember him, when you're the reason he's alive today." Matilda replied.

And just like that, Garrick bursted into tears, "I'm really sorry...this was all my fault, I took that life away from all of you...I..."

"Hey now...Shit! nobody is blaming you." Matilda said hugging him again, her tears fell down too but she did her best not to sound like she was crying, "What happened has happened, there's nothing we can do about it...we can only worry about now." she said rubbing his back gently with her hand.

"I can't help but feel...like I knew this was gonna happen?! I did this to Ned! he waited for me *hiccups* he survived for me and I just hurt him in the end...Matilda I don't deserve him...I don't deserve him *Sniffling*...I...oh god...why is this happening to us?!...Why do I cause him this much unnecessary pain?!" Garrick's tears only multipled, his face was drowning in tears just like Ned from the dream.

Matilda couldn't hold it in anymore, "Stop saying that...Shit! *Hiccups* stop you idiot, I know you're just blabbering...No one deserves Ned like you do! I know him...if he did all of this to survive just so he can see you again, *Sniffling* it means you fucking deserve him, Garrick...So stop crying!"

Hugging his sister tigher, "I don't want to cry!...I'm afraid he's gonna feel my pain...but I can't help it...I feel like shit Matilda...." Garrick said.